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DramaCrime

City of God

- If you run, the beast catches you; if you stay, the beast eats you.

In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood, while José “Zé” Pequeno is an ambitious drug dealer diving into a dangerous life of crime.

Release Date : 2002-08-30

Language :Portuguese

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : O2 FilmesVideoFilmesWild BunchHank Levine Film & MusicGlobo FilmesLumière

Production Country : BrazilFranceGermany

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Alexandre Rodrigues

Character Name : Buscapé - Rocket

Original Name : Alexandre Rodrigues

Gender : Male

Leandro Firmino

Character Name : Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé

Original Name : Leandro Firmino

Gender : Male

Phellipe Haagensen

Character Name : Bené - Benny

Original Name : Phellipe Haagensen

Gender : Male

Douglas Silva

Character Name : Dadinho - Li'l Dice

Original Name : Douglas Silva

Gender : Male

Jonathan Haagensen

Character Name : Cabeleira - Shaggy

Original Name : Jonathan Haagensen

Gender : Male

Matheus Nachtergaele

Character Name : Sandro Cenoura - Carrot

Original Name : Matheus Nachtergaele

Gender : Male

Seu Jorge

Character Name : Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned

Original Name : Seu Jorge

Gender : Male

Jefechander Suplino

Character Name : Alicate - Clipper

Original Name : Jefechander Suplino

Gender : Male

Alice Braga

Character Name : Angélica

Original Name : Alice Braga

Gender : Female

Emerson Gomes

Character Name : Barbantinho - Stringy

Original Name : Emerson Gomes

Gender : Male

Edson Oliveira

Character Name : Barbantinho Adulto - Older Stringy

Original Name : Edson Oliveira

Gender : Male

Michel Gomes

Character Name : Bené Criança - Young Benny

Original Name : Michel Gomes

Gender : Male

Roberta Rodrigues

Character Name : Berenice - Bernice

Original Name : Roberta Rodrigues

Gender : Female

Luis Otávio

Character Name : Buscapé Criança - Young Rocket

Original Name : Luis Otávio

Gender : Male

Kiko Marques

Character Name : Cabeção - Melonhead

Original Name : Kiko Marques

Gender : Male

Gustavo Engracia

Character Name : Editor do Jornal - Rogerio Reis

Original Name : Gustavo Engracia

Gender : Male

Darlan Cunha

Character Name : Filé-com-Fritas - Steak and Fries

Original Name : Darlan Cunha

Gender : Male

Robson Rocha

Character Name : Gelson - Gerson

Original Name : Robson Rocha

Gender : Male

Thiago Martins

Character Name : Lampião

Original Name : Thiago Martins

Gender : Male

Leandra Miranda

Character Name : Lúcia Maracanã

Original Name : Leandra Miranda

Gender : Male

Graziella Moretto

Character Name : Marina Cintra

Original Name : Graziella Moretto

Gender : Female

Renato de Souza

Character Name : Marreco - Goose

Original Name : Renato de Souza

Gender : Male

Karina Falcão

Character Name : Mulher do Paraíba - Shorty's Wife

Original Name : Karina Falcão

Gender : Male

Sabrina Rosa

Character Name : Namorada do Galinha - Knockout's Girlfriend

Original Name : Sabrina Rosa

Gender : Female

Rubens Sabino

Character Name : Neguinho - Blacky

Original Name : Rubens Sabino

Gender : Male

Kikito Junqueira

Character Name : Otávio

Original Name : Kikito Junqueira

Gender : Male

Edson Montenegro

Character Name : Pai Buscapé - Rocket's Father

Original Name : Edson Montenegro

Gender : Male

Gero Camilo

Character Name : Paraíba - Shorty

Original Name : Gero Camilo

Gender : Male

Felipe Paulino

Character Name : Rafael

Original Name : Felipe Paulino

Gender : Male

Daniel Zettel

Character Name : Thiago - Tiago

Original Name : Daniel Zettel

Gender : Male

Charles Paraventi

Character Name : Tio Sam - Uncle Sam

Original Name : Charles Paraventi

Gender : Male

Luiz Carlos Ribeiro Seixas

Character Name : Touro

Original Name : Luiz Carlos Ribeiro Seixas

Gender : Male

Paulo 'Jacaré' César

Character Name : Tuba

Original Name : Paulo 'Jacaré' César

Gender : Male

Dani Ornellas

Character Name : Vizinha do Paraíba - Shorty's Neighbor

Original Name : Dani Ornellas

Gender : Female

Bernardo Santos

Character Name : Caixa Baixa - Runts

Original Name : Bernardo Santos

Gender : Male

Diego Batista

Character Name : Caixa Baixa - Runts

Original Name : Diego Batista

Gender : Male

Diego Ferreira

Character Name : Caixa Baixa - Runts

Original Name : Diego Ferreira

Gender : Male

Marcio Vinicios

Character Name : Caixa Baixa - Runts

Original Name : Marcio Vinicios

Gender : Male

Micael Borges

Character Name : Caixa Baixa - Runts

Original Name : Micael Borges

Gender : Male

Rafael de Castro

Character Name : Caixa Baixa - Runts

Original Name : Rafael de Castro

Gender : Male

Ramon Francisco

Character Name : Caixa Baixa - Runts

Original Name : Ramon Francisco

Gender : Male

Thiago Wallace

Character Name : Caixa Baixa - Runts

Original Name : Thiago Wallace

Gender : Male

Alexander Cerqueira

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Alexander Cerqueira

Gender : Male

Alexandre 'China' Tavares

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Alexandre 'China' Tavares

Gender : Male

André Pires Martins

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : André Pires Martins

Gender : Male

António Rodrigues

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : António Rodrigues

Gender : Male

Bartolomeu Braga

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Bartolomeu Braga

Gender : Male

Carlos Henrique Avernas

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Carlos Henrique Avernas

Gender : Male

Cláudio César

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Cláudio César

Gender : Male

Cleiton Ventura

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Cleiton Ventura

Gender : Male

Damião Firmino

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Damião Firmino

Gender : Male

Euclides Garcia

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Euclides Garcia

Gender : Male

Fábio Castor Conceição

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Fábio Castor Conceição

Gender : Male

Felipe Nogueira

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Felipe Nogueira

Gender : Male

Ivan Martins

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Ivan Martins

Gender : Male

John Lima

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : John Lima

Gender : Male

Jonas Michel

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Jonas Michel

Gender : Male

Leandro Lucas

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Leandro Lucas

Gender : Male

Leandro Dias Batista

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Leandro Dias Batista

Gender : Male

Lúcio Andrey

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Lúcio Andrey

Gender : Male

Luis Carlos Rodrigues Oliveira

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Luis Carlos Rodrigues Oliveira

Gender : Male

Luís Nascimento

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Luís Nascimento

Gender : Male

Marcelo Mello Jr.

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Marcelo Mello Jr.

Gender : Male

Márcio Costa

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang / Bando Cenoura

Original Name : Márcio Costa

Gender : Male

Mário Luiz Costa Oliveira

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Mário Luiz Costa Oliveira

Gender : Male

Nelson Amaral

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Nelson Amaral

Gender : Male

Omar 'Mazinho' Barcelos

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Omar 'Mazinho' Barcelos

Gender : Male

Otto Amorim

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Otto Amorim

Gender : Male

Peter Soares

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Peter Soares

Gender : Male

Rafael de Souza

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Rafael de Souza

Gender : Male

Roberto Miguez

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Roberto Miguez

Gender : Male

Rómulo 'Guinomo' Sech

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Rómulo 'Guinomo' Sech

Gender : Male

Ruy Vitório

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Ruy Vitório

Gender : Male

Sérgio Bispo

Character Name : Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang

Original Name : Sérgio Bispo

Gender : Male

Alex dos Santos

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Alex dos Santos

Gender : Male

Anderson Bruno Marques

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Anderson Bruno Marques

Gender : Male

Anderson Lugão

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Anderson Lugão

Gender : Male

André Luiz Mendes

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : André Luiz Mendes

Gender : Male

Antoni Guedes

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Antoni Guedes

Gender : Male

Bruno Ricardo

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Bruno Ricardo

Gender : Male

Charles Samuel

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Charles Samuel

Gender : Male

Éder Júlio Martins

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Éder Júlio Martins

Gender : Male

Eduardo 'BR' Piranha

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Eduardo 'BR' Piranha

Gender : Male

Erick Maximiano Oliveira

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Erick Maximiano Oliveira

Gender : Male

Fábio 'Dog' da Cunha

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Fábio 'Dog' da Cunha

Gender : Male

Felipe Villela Mendonça

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Felipe Villela Mendonça

Gender : Male

Frederico Lins

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Frederico Lins

Gender : Male

Guilherme Estevam

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Guilherme Estevam

Gender : Male

Guilherme William

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Guilherme William

Gender : Male

Harlem Teixeira

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Harlem Teixeira

Gender : Male

Leandro Gonçalves

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Leandro Gonçalves

Gender : Male

Leandro Lima

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Leandro Lima

Gender : Male

Leiz Moreira

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Leiz Moreira

Gender : Male

Leonardo Melo

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Leonardo Melo

Gender : Male

Luis Carlos Oliveira

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Luis Carlos Oliveira

Gender : Male

Marcello Melo

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Marcello Melo

Gender : Male

Marcello 'Máscara' Alves

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Marcello 'Máscara' Alves

Gender : Male

Wallace Araújo

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Wallace Araújo

Gender : Male

Wallace Nascimento

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Wallace Nascimento

Gender : Male

Wanderson 'Petão' Lopes

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Wanderson 'Petão' Lopes

Gender : Male

Wellington Costa Ricardo

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Wellington Costa Ricardo

Gender : Male

Wemerson Gonçalves

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Wemerson Gonçalves

Gender : Male

Wendel Barros

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Wendel Barros

Gender : Male

Yuri Krushewsky

Character Name : Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang

Original Name : Yuri Krushewsky

Gender : Male

Anderson Faria

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Anderson Faria

Gender : Male

Arlindo Lopes

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Arlindo Lopes

Gender : Male

Carol Meirelles

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Carol Meirelles

Gender : Male

Carlos 'Lencinho' Smith

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Carlos 'Lencinho' Smith

Gender : Male

Christiano

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Christiano

Gender : Male

Diego Mendes

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Diego Mendes

Gender : Male

Jéssica Santos

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Jéssica Santos

Gender : Male

Lorena Da Silva

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Lorena Da Silva

Gender : Female

Luciana Roque

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Luciana Roque

Gender : Male

Marina Mandonça Pinheiro

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Marina Mandonça Pinheiro

Gender : Male

Michele Gonçalves

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Michele Gonçalves

Gender : Male

Pierre dos Santos

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Pierre dos Santos

Gender : Male

Renan Monteiro

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Renan Monteiro

Gender : Male

Vinicius Faria

Character Name : Cocotas - Groovies

Original Name : Vinicius Faria

Gender : Male

Delano Valentim

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Delano Valentim

Gender : Male

Ed Money

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Ed Money

Gender : Male

Fabiano Gonçalves

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Fabiano Gonçalves

Gender : Male

Felipe Porto

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Felipe Porto

Gender : Male

Francisco Marcos

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Francisco Marcos

Gender : Male

Leo Generoso

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Leo Generoso

Gender : Male

Marcelo António Santos

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Marcelo António Santos

Gender : Male

Marcelo Araújo

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Marcelo Araújo

Gender : Male

Marcos Viana

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Marcos Viana

Gender : Male

Maurício Figueiras

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Maurício Figueiras

Gender : Male

Ricardo Lira

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Ricardo Lira

Gender : Male

Ricardo Rocha da Silva

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Ricardo Rocha da Silva

Gender : Male

Wagner Mello

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Wagner Mello

Gender : Male

Waldeck Roque

Character Name : Polícia - Police

Original Name : Waldeck Roque

Gender : Male

Júlio César Siqueira

Character Name : Aristóteles

Original Name : Júlio César Siqueira

Gender : Male

Denise Fonseca

Character Name : Ba

Original Name : Denise Fonseca

Gender : Male

Adão Xalebaradã

Character Name : Exu

Original Name : Adão Xalebaradã

Gender : Male

Edward Boggis

Character Name : Garoto viciado - Addicted Kid

Original Name : Edward Boggis

Gender : Male

Guti Fraga

Character Name : Gerente do supermercado - Supermarket Manager

Original Name : Guti Fraga

Gender : Male

Babu Santana

Character Name : Grande - Big Boy

Original Name : Babu Santana

Gender : Male

Marcello Costa

Character Name : Irmão Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned's Brother

Original Name : Marcello Costa

Gender : Male

Marcos Coutinho

Character Name : Irmão Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned's Brother

Original Name : Marcos Coutinho

Gender : Male

João Soares

Character Name : Jabá

Original Name : João Soares

Gender : Male

Rafael Fontenele

Character Name : Jovem Trabalhador - Young Worker

Original Name : Rafael Fontenele

Gender : Male

Rosangela Rodrigues

Character Name : Mãe Buscapé - Rocket's Mother

Original Name : Rosangela Rodrigues

Gender : Male

Jota Farias

Character Name : Motorista do DKW - Driver

Original Name : Jota Farias

Gender : Male

Mary Sheila

Character Name : Mulher do Neguinho - Blacky's Wife

Original Name : Mary Sheila

Gender : Female

Gil Torres

Character Name : Mulher do Ônibus - Woman on Bus

Original Name : Gil Torres

Gender : Male

Paulo Lins

Character Name : Pastor da Igreja - Shepherd of the Church

Original Name : Paulo Lins

Gender : Male

Christian Duurvoort

Character Name : Paulista - Man from São Paulo

Original Name : Christian Duurvoort

Gender : Male

Olivia Araújo

Character Name : Recepcionista do Motel

Original Name : Olivia Araújo

Gender : Female

Tulé Peak

Character Name : Newspaper Employee (uncredited)

Original Name : Tulé Peak

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

Crazypiglady

@Crazypiglady

2023-05-06

It’s a great film and well worthy of its the respect it has. It’s gruelling too, the 18 rating is due to the thread running through the film of continuous and ruthless violence of gangs trying to control their drug area. The is the story told through the eyes of ‘Rocket’ who avoids getting in to the gang war of his brother and friends by trying to find a safer life. The film combines slick production without losing a genuine documentary feel which I think it is why it’s so enduring. While it achieves a feeling of reality, it isn’t specifically a true story. However, the Cidade de Deus is real (being created to rehouse the slums away from Rio de Janeiro) and this story of its underworld and the film’s production makes one believe it may not be too far from the truth. There is hope in the story but not a lot.

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-05-20

Told by way of an occasionally narrated retrospective, "Rocket" (Alexandre Rodrigues) tells us a story of his childhood in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Growing up in a community of newly built boxes, without power or plumbing, that reminded me of a row of concrete beach huts, the community is pretty lawless. The crime is largely to confined to pettier crimes, but as aspirations grow so does the scale of the criminality. A raid on a motel-cum-brothel is supposed to make everyone extra cash, but their inventive young watchman "Li'l Dice" (Douglas Silva) hates being left out and so does a little augmenting of his own. Brutal and attention grabbing. Next the cops crack down, bodies pile up and the societal order starts to change. It's this young man who grows up into the leading drug-peddling hoodlum amongst a now much more developed township where, tempered only by his more diplomatic childhood friend "Bené" (Phellipe Haagensen), the newly named "Li'l Zé" (Leandro Firmino) is ruling the roost. Curiously, his own form of government proves more stable for the residents, and although many are addicts there is a certain degree of law-and-order. Then the runts start to intervene. These are the young children with no hope, no families and only the dream of becoming their own version of "Li'l Zé" one day too. Gradually, the empire expands until it's only "Carrot" (Matheus Nachtergaele) who stands against him. When tragedy strikes very close to home for the kingpin, though, the uneasy peace between the two sections breaks out into an open warfare that drags in the sharpshooting army vet "Knockout Ned" (Seu Jorge), arms all the enthusiastic children and creates an environment that isn't safe for anyone - and where the police keep their distance in the hope that they will just all just slaughter each other. It's lucky that "Rocket" can use a camera. His boss wants publicity to illustrate how dominant and powerful he is. The newspapers want the photographs too. If the young man can walk the tightrope carefully, he might find himself well placed to capitalise on his unique access to a story that by now is gripping their nation. This is a fascinatingly well put together depiction of the worst of human nature; a dog eat dog world, where traditional humanity is scarce and the virtues of a not so benign dictatorship are exposed for all to see. The characterisations are mostly brutal and exploitative, yet there is a place for love and loyalty too amidst a poverty stricken population that craves basics like food and running water and is oblivious to death in the streets. The story is well supplemented by some engaging supporting characters like "Steak n' Fries", "Goose", "Shaggy" and "Thiago" (Daniel Zettel or is it really Timothée Chalamet?). The writing delivers powerfully but sparingly. We don't have loads of waffling dialogue, and there's also quite a bit of dark humour contained to not so much lighten the mood as to enhance the perception amongst most of the population that kill or be killed was a perfectly reasonable mantra. Firmino, Haagensen and Rodrigues deliver extremely well here in this most impressively photographed and intense look at a society where the top dog was only top by feeding and starving his followers. It's not especially graphic, I found, just a poignant look at survival of the fittest, the shrewdest and the luckiest. There's also a distinct lack of religiosity throughout, too! If you can see this at a cinema, then do - it's based on a true story and isn't an easy watch.